Presentation at Gore

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 32, 30 July 1924, Page 26

Presentation at Gore

FATHER KAVENEY HONORED.• The Town Hall was well filled the other Thursday night ' (wries a correspondent), on the occasion of a social and presentation to Rev. Father Kaveney, who has. recently been transferred to Dunedin as Administrator of the Cathedral. Several apologies were received from well-wishers and V friends wjio were unable to be present. A feature of the i gathering was tho large representation of citizens outside the Catholic fold. The early part of the evening took the form of a concert, during which several members of the congregation were heard to advantage. The opening number was a. pianoforte duct by Miss Carmody and Miss Sylvia Inder; both young ladies were at the top of their form and the large audience was soon in good humor. The following also contributed: —Misses Ryan (2), and.,, Mrs. Pettigrew and Miss O'Brien (duets) Mrs. Petligrew, Misses Dolly Casey, O'Brien, and Hilda Egan, and Mr. M. Croni.n - (songs); Miss Sylvia Inder (recitation). All the above had to respond to well earned encores. Special mention must be made of Miss Dolly Casey, whose rendering of an "Ave Maria"" was Worth going a long way to hear. Great things are expected from this young lady in the musical world. At this stage. Mr. Owen Kelly said that he had a very pleasant duty to perform, namely to ask Father Kaveney to. accept a small token of love and appreciation from the*p?arishioners of Gore for whom he had labored the last two years. Although he (the speaker) was pleased to "see such a large gathering present to do honor to-Father Kaveney he was also much grieved at the thought that their beloved pastor was leaving them. He felt certain that he was voicing the opinion, of all present when he said that Father Kaveney was beloved _ by all, and that during the whole of his time, in Core ho '"" had never refused duty. It did not matter if it: was a sick call to Haldane, a christening at Clinton, or a wedding at Ueriot Father Kaveney was always there with that • gloving smile and big heart so well known to us all. Mr. . Kelly then dealt at length with the early history of the Church in the Gore parish. "Some 41) years ago," he said, ''when Gore was part of the Milton parish, Mass was celebrated here but once in three months, by the late Father Lenahan. An old building in East Gore known as McKay's Hall did service for many years as a church. Needless to say, in those days the Catholic population was small and very scattered, and as there were no motor cars and very few vehicles many of the faithful walked 10 and 12 miles to attend Mass. The first parish priest appointed to Gore was the late Father Fitzgerald, followed by the late Father Newport, who met an untimely but heroic death at Port Chalmers. Our present pastor, "Father O'Donnelf, has had charge of the parish for nearly thirty years, and when one looks at our" beautiful church and grounds it can be readily understood that he was blessed with much wisdom and" foresight. Gore has become famous as a recruiting station for young priests, no fewer than 18 having passed through Father O'Donnell's hands, all of whom have made good; many having parishes of their own while others have taken on the responsible position of Administrator." In asking Father Kaveney to accept a wallet containing £IOO, Mr. Kelly said that although the wallet was leather and the contents paper the good wishes that went with it were golden, and if Father Kaveney'had .as good a time as his Gore friends wished him, then indeed, he was to be envied. Rev. Father Buckley, on behalf of the clergy present (consisting of Fathers Graham, Lennon, Marlow (2), O'Reilly and Martin), said it gave him great pleasure to be present to help to do honor to Father Kaveney. He did not know that it was a wise plan to give Father Kaveney too much money, as he could not keep it. As a matter of fact he knew that several of the priests present were going to tap him for a loan right away. They all knew what a big heart Father Kaveney had, and asked that special conditions be attached to the £IOO otherwise Father Kaveney might not have any left in a short space of time. Mr. A. H. Smith, said he was delighted to be present to help to do honor to Father Kaveney, and trusted that the-priests and people, of Dunedin would learn to know and to love him as we had* done. - V ..' '

Mr. IV; Falconer, Chieftain of the Gore Highland Society, and MPryS. C. Inder, one of the oldest identities of the district, also spoke in eulogistic terms of the guest. On rising to respond Father Kaveney was greeted with applause. He said that he really could not thank the people sufficiently for the kindness and generosity they had always shown him, and assured them it did not take this handsome gift to remind him of the many friends he had made. He said that he was very sorry to have to leave Gore and his "friends, but he was only a servant and had to do what he was told. However, he would remember them; in, the best possible wayin his prayersand again thanked them most heartily for their kindness. (Loud applause.) Mr. Kelly then took the opportunity of welcoming Father Graham to Gore, and trusted that his sojourn amongst us would be pleasant. (Applause.) Father Graham thanked the people for their welcome, and said it would be his one aim and object while here to try and capture the hearts of the people as his predecessors had done. The Children of Mary (who are always to the fore in Gore) then put on a bountiful supper, after which the young people held an enjoyable dance, the music being kindly supplied by Messrs. Wallis, Kerr, and Ferguson. Thus ended one of the most enjoyable functions ever held by the Catholics of Gore.